News Update
Feb. 23, 2010

Congressional Members, Livestock Groups Hold Educational Briefings on Antibiotics

Today, Feb. 23, livestock and poultry groups hosted educational briefings on Capitol Hill to share the facts about the importance of tools like antibiotics in raising healthy food animals. The informational sessions were co-hosted by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) through beef checkoff funding, the National Chicken Council, the National Pork Producers Council, the National Milk Producers Federation, the National Turkey Federation, the American Meat Institute (AMI) and the National Meat Association.

Today’s briefings were held in cooperation with U.S. Reps. David Scott, Randy Neugebauer, Zack Space and Roy Blunt and by Sen. Tom Harkin. Top livestock and poultry health experts from across the country presented information to attendees.

“Prompt and judicious use of efficacious antibiotics is critical for the successful treatment and, at times, control of specific bacterial diseases in cattle. Certain FDA-approved antibiotics also enable us to significantly improve the efficiency of beef production,” said Guy Loneragan, an epidemiologist and associate professor at West Texas A&M University, and presenter at today’s briefings. “Maintaining access to FDA-approved safe and effective technologies, including animal health products, helps ensure both the health and resource efficiency of U.S. herds and flocks.”

In addition to stringent federal regulations, responsible-use programs have been developed specific to feed, livestock and poultry organizations to give feed companies and producers specific guidelines and assistance on the safe and proper use of antibiotics in health management systems.

“We use antibiotics judiciously and responsibly to protect the health of our herds and to produce safe pork,” said Craig Rowles. “We know that a ban on antibiotics, like the one in Denmark, will have adverse effects on our pigs, will raise the cost of production and will not provide a benefit to public health.”

Despite the unsubstantiated allegations by activist groups, there is no conclusive scientific evidence that shows the use of antibiotics on farms contributes significantly to an increase in antibiotic resistance in humans. In fact, a growing body of evidence shows just the opposite; namely, the responsible, professional use of these products keeps animals healthy and enhances animal welfare while not contributing to resistance.

“Taking FDA-approved animal drugs off the market would leave farmers and veterinarians with very limited options for preventing and controlling disease in livestock and poultry, which would have serious repercussions for animal health and preventing foodborne disease, with the strong likelihood that there would be no improvement in human health,” said Timothy Cummings, clinical poultry professor for the Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine at Mississippi State University. “It’s absolutely vital that any decisions about the care of animals and the safety of our food be based on sound science rather than unsubstantiated concerns.”
According to Leon Weaver, a veterinarian and dairy farmer from Montpelier, Ohio: “The U.S. dairy industry conducts more than 3.3 million tests each year on all milk entering dairy plants to ensure that antibiotics are kept out of the milk supply.

According to the most recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) data, less than one tanker in 3,800 tests positive for any animal drug residues, including antibiotics. In those rare cases, any milk that tests positive is disposed of immediately and does not get into the food supply.”

— Release by NCBA.

Ohio Beef Expo Kicks Off March 19

The Ohio Beef Expo will kick off for its 23rd year March 19. The three-day event, scheduled for March 19-21 at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, is the premier event for Ohio’s beef industry. Plans are being finalized and this year’s event is shaping up to be the best ever with breed sales, shows, trade show, a competitive junior show and educational seminars.

The event begins Friday morning with the opening of the trade show at 10 a.m. Also starting on Friday morning is the educational seminars. These seminars will take place throughout the day on Friday and Sunday and will offer producers the opportunity to learn how to make their operation more efficient and profitable. A special feature will be the seminars for grass-fed beef production on Sunday. A complete list of seminars is available at www.ohiobeefexpo.com.

The Expo will once again include a three-day industry trade show. This year’s trade show is the largest ever and will feature more than 100 exhibitors from 16 states. Catalogs for these sales can be requested by logging on to www.ohiobeefexpo.com and clicking on the sales link.

While visiting the trade show, producers can stop at the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) booth and learn about all the benefits of being an OCA member. Thanks to a great partnership with J&J Steakbarn, an outstanding membership prize of a $100 gift certificate to J&J Steakbarn will be given away to a lucky OCA member. OCA’s County Cattlemen’s Association affiliates will be on hand Sunday to see which lucky county will be the winner of a new five-foot, stainless steel grill sponsored by the Ohio Corn Growers Association.

Throughout the event, the Ohio Beef Expo will be hosting several fundraisers for OCA’s PAC (Political Action Committee) fund. There will be an item sold at the start of each of the breed sales as well as a few items sold at the start of the semen sale to benefit the PAC fund. As Ohio enters into a big election this November, the need for these funds is critical.

The ever-popular Genetic Pathway will once again be a feature of the upper concourse of the Voinovich Livestock and Trade Center throughout the weekend. The country’s best genetics will be featured with live bulls and females on display.

Another attraction for the 2010 Expo is the junior show fitting demonstration and junior social that will happen on Friday evening. The excitement will begin with a fitting demonstration at 6 p.m. followed by the junior social and pizza party. These events are sponsored by Purina-Show Chow Feeds and Farm Credit Services of Mid-America.

The junior show will kick off Saturday afternoon with Showmanship that is being sponsored by Green Oak Farms. The competition will start again early Sunday morning with the heifer and market animal shows. Complete rules for the show can be found on www.ohiobeefexpo.com.

Two individuals will also be recognized as Friends of the Ohio Beef Expo during the event for their contribution to the event’s annual success. Sam Roberts of South Charleston and Laura Sutherly of Troy are this year’s award recipients.

More than 25,000 visitors from 20 states and Canada routinely attend the Ohio Beef Expo. It is ranked as the ninth largest event hosted in central Ohio and is the premier location to meet Ohio’s cattle producers. Don’t miss it! If you are unable to attend the event, visit www.ohiobeefexpo.com during the event because all results will be posted as they is available. Four of the breed sales and the junior show will also be broadcast on www.dvauction.com.

For complete details on the 2010 Ohio Beef Expo, visit www.ohiobeefexpo.com. The Ohio Beef Expo is a function of the OCA. The OCA is an affiliate of the NCBA and is the state’s spokesperson and issues manager for all segments of the beef cattle industry including cattle breeders, producers and feeders. It is the grassroots policy development organization for the beef business. Through the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association, cattle producers work to create a positive business environment, while providing consumers with a safe and wholesome product.

— Release by OCA.

MBA Catapults Past 2,000

Since the Cattle Industry Convention the last week in January more than 300 new students have enrolled in the beef checkoff Masters of Beef Advocacy (MBA) program, pushing current students to more than 1,300. More than 100 students graduated in the first three weeks of February (788 total since March 2009) and it is anticipated that more than 150 will complete the courses by the end of the month.

With MBA commencements planned in Texas, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania and Kentucky in the next six weeks, the number of graduates should exceed 1,000 by the end of March, the one-year anniversary of the program’s launch. The single largest commencement to date will take place at Western Kentucky University Feb. 26, where more than 100 MBA grads are expected to attend.

“We are very encouraged by the response to the program,” says Daren Williams, MBA “Dean of Students” and executive director of communications at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, contractor to the Beef Checkoff Program. “What this tells me [is] that more and more people are preparing themselves to be informed advocates for farmers and ranchers and many of them are already engaged in grassroots efforts to sustain the future of our industry.”

The MBA program is a free, self-directed online training program designed to equip producers and industry allies with information they need to be everyday advocates for the beef industry. After completing six courses, graduates will be invited to attend a commencement advocacy training and graduation ceremony focusing on sharing the positive story of beef one-on-one with friends and neighbors and interacting with consumers across the country using social media tools like Facebook and Twitter.

After completing the program, participants will be ready to become everyday beef advocates and to get out and meet consumers where they live. This may be as simple as talking to friends, family and neighbors, or going out to broader audiences, such as schools, businesses and civic groups to tell the beef story.

The MBA program will ensure that producers and industry allies are delivering a consistent message and are prepared to talk beef with whomever they feel most comfortable with, whether it’s a neighbor at the feed store, a newspaper reporter or an Internet blogger.

For more information about the checkoff-funded MBA program, visit www.MyBeefCheckoff.com. To enroll, send an e-mail to MBA@beef.org.

— Release by the Cattlemen’s Beef Board.

Missouri Angus Breeders’ Futurity

The Missouri Angus Breeders’ Futurity is this weekend, Feb. 27-28 in Columbia, Mo. The event is the highlight of the spring sale season and the showcase for Missouri Angus Association members. The sale will feature 110 lots, with 75 females and 35 bulls to be offered.

Schedule of Events:

• Saturday, Feb. 27
  9:30 a.m. Futurity Show, Immediately following show - Junior Showmanship Contest
  3:00 p.m. Annual Membership Meeting, Livestock Center
  6:00 p.m. Social, Stoney Creek Inn
  6:30 p.m. Annual Banquet & Directory Ad Auction
  
• Sunday, February 28
  11:00 a.m. Futurity Sale, University of Missouri Livestock Center

View the entire sale book online at www.missouriangus.org. The advertising auction on Saturday evening at the banquet where advertising packages in the Missouri Angus Trails and Directory are sold at near 50% savings. If we can answer any questions or help you in purchasing an advertising contract be sure and contact us. The advertising packages are only available for one night at the Futurity banquet.

— Release by Missouri Angus Association.

— Compiled by Mathew Elliott, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.